It’s good to try before you buy, so all our courses now have free videos you can watch. Of course, we do have a 7 day trial for any subscription … but nonetheless, you can now view dozens of free videos right away.

By the way, if you are totally new to web design, check out my Web Foundations course. And it’s completely free now!

… And much more. Yes, a beginners subject … but remember this is part of the Web Foundations course.

Stefan
killersites.com

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-part-3-domain-names/feed/0Web Foundations Part 2 – ready to watchhttp://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-part-2-ready-to-watch/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-part-2-ready-to-watch/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 16:39:17 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4273What is Web Hosting? Yes a basic topic, but I go into some detail that you might find interesting:
- hosting choices
- hosting cost
- Should you set up your own web hosting?
I hope you like it!
Stefan Mischook
killersites.com]]>Hi!

Part 2 of my new Web Foundations course is out – What is Web Hosting? Yes a basic topic, but I go into some detail that you might find interesting:

– hosting choices
– hosting cost
– Should you set up your own web hosting?

I hope you like it!

Stefan Mischook
killersites.com

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-part-2-ready-to-watch/feed/0Web Foundations Course Out!http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-course-out/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-course-out/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 20:47:49 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4269
Hi,
My new Web Foundations course has been released and the first lesson is available for free - now. Get it while you can:
https://webmentor.org/course/web-foundations/1
Thanks!
Stefan
killersites.com]]>

Hi,

My new Web Foundations course has been released and the first lesson is available for free – now. Get it while you can:

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/web-foundations-course-out/feed/0Why you should be teaching kids PHP, and not Python or Rubyhttp://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-you-should-be-teaching-kids-php-and-not-python-or-ruby/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-you-should-be-teaching-kids-php-and-not-python-or-ruby/#commentsSun, 15 Feb 2015 21:57:33 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4256Why is PHP better?]]>These days, Python and Ruby are popular programming languages with the tech startup crowd, and so, many of the venture capital backed ‘teach code’ startups have ruby or python courses targeted at kids. The problem is, that these are not the best languages to teach programming with – especially in K12.

Why is PHP better?

In a nutshell:

1. PHP is easier to learn:

Python and Ruby are object oriented language at their core, so to do anything with the languages, you really have to understand object oriented theory and principles. This adds an unnecessary level of complexity to new learners.

Yes, modern software development is largely object oriented, but my 10+ years experience in teaching web development, has taught me that it is better to teach basic programming concepts and techniques before adding the OOP (object oriented programming) layer.

PHP has both an object oriented layer and a much less complex layer that is ideal for teaching programming to new learners – especially younger students.

2. With PHP, it’s easier do real things.

With PHP, because it was designed specifically for the web, you can create web apps fairly quickly. On top of that, getting PHP apps live is also trivial – just upload the files to a PHP enabled server, and you are done. Try that with Ruby or Python!

Ruby and Python were not designed with web apps in mind. They were put together more as general purpose languages and have been adapted for the web. Yes, they are both excellent languages, but there is that additional layer of complexity when it comes time to actually creating a web app and going live.

…. These days, if you are creating apps, they are most likely web apps! So this is relevant.
3. PHP is BY FAR the most used web development language – it’s not even close!

If you are looking to put practical skills into you students hands, then PHP is easily the best choice. Check out this simple stat: over 80% of dynamic websites, that is to say, websites that are also web apps, are created with PHP. Ruby and Python together may add up to 7%.

In fact, what I hear from new programmers time and time again (after they learn Python or Ruby,) they discover that they have to learn PHP, since there are so many more jobs in the PHP world.

Consider this next stat, WordPress runs about 23% of the world’s websites!! Add in Joomla and Drupal (two other popular CMS’) and we are probably close to 30% of the worlds websites being run by 3 web apps created with …. PHP!

.. There is no equivalent in the Ruby or Python world.

The point here is that there is a huge ecosystem in PHP that no other language comes close to. When selecting technologies, we all know from the Apple Appstore, that the ecosystem is hugely important. It’s a big reason why iPhone is so successful.

Conclusion

It seems clear, if you want to teach kids (adults too!) more easily and you want them to be able to easily see their code actually do something real, PHP is the obvious choice.

Add in the market viability of the language and the growing probability that Ruby will slowly fall into a micro niche (it’s already niche IMHO) … then there is really no argument. You can see why Studioweb teaches programming with PHP.

Final note:

I chose to teach programming with PHP in 2004, NOT because I was a PHP programmer zealot. I’ve written software in 8 or so languages, I am language agnostic. In fact, my favourite language for years was Java … I’ve written more lines of Java code than any other language.

No, I still chose PHP to teach programming, because it was the best choice.

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-you-should-be-teaching-kids-php-and-not-python-or-ruby/feed/0My New Web Design Book is on Amazonhttp://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/my-new-web-design-book-is-on-amazon/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/my-new-web-design-book-is-on-amazon/#commentsSat, 14 Feb 2015 22:51:59 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4241
Hi,
Just announcing that my new beginners web design book is ready for pre-order on Amazon! The title is a strange one, but descriptive: Build your Website - Start Here
The first paragraph from the introduction describes the book nicely:
This book is about code and cutting-edge web design. It starts off with the big picture, and then circles in slowly for the web design kill! I won’t leave you hanging with just a bunch of nerd-code either, not knowing what to do with it—no, no, no! Not only will you know how to build a modern website, but also how to get it live on the web.
This is a beginners book but I still cover a lot of material. You will learn key fundamentals of web design and web coding. Here are just some of the topics I cover:

HTML, CSS, HTML5 and CSS3.

JavaScript and programming basics.

Liquid, adaptive and responsive layout - as we build a simple website.

How to add video and audio to web pages.

Bootstrap, jQuery and what web frameworks are all about.

.. And much more!
Thanks!
Stefan Mischook
killersites.com]]>

Hi,

Just announcing that my new beginners web design book is ready for pre-order on Amazon! The title is a strange one, but descriptive: Build your Website – Start Here

The first paragraph from the introduction describes the book nicely:

This book is about code and cutting-edge web design. It starts off with the big picture, and then circles in slowly for the web design kill! I won’t leave you hanging with just a bunch of nerd-code either, not knowing what to do with it—no, no, no! Not only will you know how to build a modern website, but also how to get it live on the web.

This is a beginners book but I still cover a lot of material. You will learn key fundamentals of web design and web coding. Here are just some of the topics I cover:

HTML, CSS, HTML5 and CSS3.

JavaScript and programming basics.

Liquid, adaptive and responsive layout – as we build a simple website.

How to add video and audio to web pages.

Bootstrap, jQuery and what web frameworks are all about.

.. And much more!

Thanks!

Stefan Mischook
killersites.com

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/my-new-web-design-book-is-on-amazon/feed/0Why 10,000 Video Tutorials Suck!http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-10000-video-tutorials-suck/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-10000-video-tutorials-suck/#commentsSun, 25 Jan 2015 18:30:35 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4207
Hi,
I've been teaching web design and development since 2003, and I've seen all the trends over the years. The current trend in online education, is to flood people with thousands of videos, and claim that's a great thing. In fact, that sucks!
Why 10,000 video tutorials suck?
Let's put in a nutshell:
The teacher, really has two jobs:

Filter for the good stuff.

To simplify.

So my job as web design and development teacher, is to concentrate on the important technologies (and to teach you WHY it's important,) and to make things that are complex, simple.
... If I say that I have 'thousands of videos to choose from', I am basically saying that I am not doing 1/2 my job!]]>

Hi,

I’ve been teaching web design and development since 2003, and I’ve seen all the trends over the years. The current trend in online education, is to flood people with thousands of videos, and claim that’s a great thing!

Thousands of videos on Netflix makes sense, but when it comes to learning web design and development, that sucks!

Why 10,000 video tutorials suck?

Let’s put in a nutshell:

The teacher, really has two jobs:

Filter for the good stuff.

To simplify.

So my job as web design and development teacher, is to concentrate on the important technologies (and to teach you WHY it’s important,) and to make things that are complex, simple.

… If I say that I have ‘thousands of videos to choose from’, I am basically saying that I am not doing 1/2 my job!

With that in mind, I’ve been culling/removing courses for years. I’ve retired countless videos that covered topics that were either no longer important because of the changes in the market (ex: Flash) or because new updated courses took their place.

Less is More when Learning to Code

If you want to slog through piles of video tutorials, created by (who knows how many?) different authors who (typically) have little teaching skill and often, not much experience, then forget about paying for a subscription … you might as well just go to Youtube.

On the other hand, if you think that consistent quality is important, and you don’t want to waste time searching for good training, then check out Webmentor.org. Yes, I am shamelessly self promoting … but what do you expect? This is my site afterall!

All joking aside, Webmentor.org represents what I am preaching: a refined collection of highly selected courses in an easy to use website.

I’ve selected only the best courses from the Killersites collection, remastered them to HD quality and now I’m authoring new courses with the help of my buddy Prof. Santo Romano, who is literally an award winning teacher.

Here’s a quote from one of his students:

Hands down, the absolute best teacher I’ve ever had at Concordia. I only wish I was able to have had him earlier in my studies and not simply in my final year. I would take any class taught by Santo.

And here is another:

Amazing. The only guy to teach me more than all my other courses put together, while singing james bond theme songs and explaining the works of pink floyd. Never a dull moment.

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/why-10000-video-tutorials-suck/feed/0Killersites.com turns 19yrs old!http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/killersites-com-turns-19yrs-old/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/killersites-com-turns-19yrs-old/#commentsFri, 09 Jan 2015 18:46:46 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4187
Hi!
I can't believe that killerSites.com has been teaching the web for 19 years! Back then, I had no white hair ... if you can believe it!
A little Killersites history ...
Killersites was originally created to support a best selling book on web design, Creating Killer Websites, by David D. Siegel. At the time, killersites.com only contained articles and support material for the book.
In 2002-2003, I took over and started to expand what killersites' offered - with new articles, podcasts and video training on web design and even development. ]]>

Hi!

I can’t believe that killerSites.com has been teaching the web for 19 years! Back then, I had no white hair … if you can believe it!

A little Killersites history …

Killersites was originally created to support a best selling book on web design, Creating Killer Websites, by David D. Siegel. At the time, killersites.com only contained articles and support material for the book.

In 2002-2003, I took over and started to expand what killersites’ offered – with new articles, podcasts and video training on web design and even development.

First video course on web design

In 2003, I decided to create my very first video course on web design. Not knowing how it would turn out, I was only willing to risk $5 on a $15 mic (on sale!) for the recording, and I used (by today’s standards) a pretty primitive screen capture app.

… In those days, of the few people who were doing video courses, many where using normal video cameras to record the screen over the author’s shoulder – they looked terrible!

That first web design course was simply called ‘Web Design 1′. Despite being a greenhorn video course creator, Web Design 1 was a success. I think my years of teaching martial arts, and the classes I took on learning theory at university, helped.

Killersites in 2015

So let’s fast forward to today; killersites is one of the originals in web education, and we are still around! But there have been years where I stepped away and let my content fall behind the times … I must admit.

Over the last few years though, I’ve rediscovered my inner-nerd, and I really get a kick out of code and development again. So I am (with the help of other major nerds,) coming out with new video courses, articles, podcasts and even a brand new book on web design and development. The book will be in stores in April 2015.

My latest projects include Studioweb.com, a system designed to help teachers teach web design and development. And WebMentor.org, a Netflix like subscription service, with a complete video curriculum on web design and development.

… And I am just getting started!

Thanks for reading,

Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/killersites-com-turns-19yrs-old/feed/0The Secret to Learning Web Designhttp://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/the-secret-to-learning-web-design/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/the-secret-to-learning-web-design/#commentsTue, 06 Jan 2015 16:17:17 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4165
Hi,
I've been building websites since 1994 and teaching web design and development since 2002 ... give or take 6 months. In that time, I've been able to figure out the best way to both learn and teach web design:
The key is to NOT get distracted with the unimportant techniques and technology. That means being able to figure out what you really need to learn, and to cut out what isn't so important.]]>

Hi,

I’ve been building websites since 1994 and teaching web design and development since 2002 … give or take 6 months. In that time, I’ve been able to figure out the best way to both learn and teach web design:

The key is to NOT get distracted with the unimportant techniques and technology. That means being able to figure out what you really need to learn, and to cut out what isn’t so important.

… That’s where an experienced teacher and actual web developer can guide you.

Web Design is a big subject that is always evolving!

Over the years, web design has evolved considerably. The process of building websites in 2015 is very different from how we did it in the early 2000’s, let alone the 1990’s! Despite these big changes, there is a consistency in web design that has carried through to today; being able to identify these patterns (and techniques) will help you keep your skills future-proof to a large extent.

… Yes, you should always count on having to learn new techniques and technology, but you can make the process much, much easier when you have a great foundation.

My Top 3 Web Design and Development Principles

There is just too much to cover in a blog post, but let me quickly list 3 important principles of web design:

Keep your code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) simple.

Keep your code modular.

Above all, be sure that your sites are easy to use. This actually the hardest part of the job!

If you don’t understand these, don’t worry, I will be covering these topics and many others on this blog and on my subscription service webmentor.org.

Thanks!

Stefan Mischook
killerSites.com

]]>http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/the-secret-to-learning-web-design/feed/0Learn Web Design at Webmentor.org – it’s like Netflix for web designers!http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/learn-web-design-at-webmentor-org-its-like-netflix-for-web-designers/
http://www.killersites.com/blog/2015/learn-web-design-at-webmentor-org-its-like-netflix-for-web-designers/#commentsTue, 06 Jan 2015 03:42:26 +0000http://www.killersites.com/blog/?p=4155
Hi,
I just wanted announce that my new web design training subscription service (webmentor.org) is live and ready to go. Start learning web design and development for free for 7 days … with no obligation.
Top 3 Reasons to join WebMentor:]]>

Hi,

I just wanted announce that my new web design training subscription service (webmentor.org) is live and ready to go. Start learning web design and development for free for 7 days … with no obligation.